Internal-combustion rotary engine.



v n. A. MORTON'. INTERNAL" ooMBUsTIoN ROTARY' ENGINE.

VAPPAIOAJIIC'N FILED TEB.25, U09.

Patgnd Mar. 5,1912.

R. A. MORTQN. INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ROTRY ENGINE.

APPLIUATION I'ILED,PI2B.25, 1909.

Patented Mai: 1912.v

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4R. A. Mmmm A INTERNAL OGMUTIH BTABY ENGINE.-

APPLIDATIOH FILEDFEB, 1909.

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INTEBNALCOIBUSTION `ROTARY ENGINE.

Be it known that I, RoLLA A. Monroy. a citizen of the United States,residing at Fresno, in the county of Fresno and State of California,have invented new' and useful .Improvements in Internal-CombustionRotary Engines, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates to that class of motors known as internalcombustion rotary engines.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a practical and simplerotary engine of the internal explosive type, wherein the fuel lchargeis compressed in a, relatively cool compression chamber. and is explodedin a separate'.cliamber; and also to provide a novel means for theutilization to maximum advantage of the action of the exploding andexpanding gases.

It is the purpose also to' provide a motor of this character in whichthe several parts are designed so as to'be maintained at as low atemperature as is practicable. Several further purposes of the inventionwill be nlade manifest in the following specification. l

The invention consists of the elements. and the construction and,combination of elements, or their equivalentaas hereinset forth.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the explosion and expansionchambers, viewed from the left ofltig. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionthrough the compressor' chamber,

viewed from the right of Fig. 5, and showi ing the rotor at the positioncorresponding to the'positionof the rotor of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is avertical section through the explosion and expansion chambers afterexploslon has taken place.

Fig. 4 1s a vertical section showing the relative positions of themembers in the compression chamber, to that shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is atransverse 'vertical section through the motor. Fig. 6 1s v a sectionshowing the spring'8. Fig. 7 is an enlarged section ofthey transversepacking bar. l

"I n' the embodiment of my invention, as shown in the several 'figures Arepresents'a sectional water-)ticketed casing, and 2".:1

transverse, horizontal, hollow shaft -jour` naled upon suitableball-bearings 3. The casing incloses a compression chamber 5 1n whichthe rotary piston 4 Operates, and an y Specication ot Letters Patent. I'Application Med February 25, 1009. Serial No. 480,049.

' Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

expansion chamber 1 9 in which the rotor 1S operates: these. twonchambers heilig each connectedwith the explosion chamber 12. Bothrotors -l and 18 are fixed to shaft 2.

While l shall only describe the engine asv comprising a singlecompression chamber, a single expansion chamber, a rotor for each, and asingle explosion chambtag'it will be understood thatas man v units may`be assembled in a single engine and on the same shaft, as desired..

9. The rotor 4 which is made vmore or less cam-shape-revolves to thelright, as indi-A cated by the arrow, Fi s. 2 and 4, and against theouter end o the abutment 7'.

to engage constantly upon the irregular pe-l riphery the `co1'npression.piston 4, and `is positively.oscillated upon the pin 10 by engagementwith the rotor 4, in such a mantact with the face 11 of the'piston 4;the charge of gas being forced through port 9 into the chamber 12, andpast a check valve lowinto chamber' 5 when piston 4 passes by and allowsthe abutment 7 to dropagain. Thus whenthe parts `are in the. positionshown in Fig. 2, a charge of gas previously drawn in through the intakeport- 6 has been the abutment 7 to force all of the gas ast the checkvalve 13, and by which latteranis 12 untilit is exploded by a suitableignition device, as 15. he chamber 12 is provided with a hinged`segmental closure 16 between the inlet port 6 and the outlet port` Theouter end of thaabutment 7) is adapted ner that the member 7 is iirstlifted'by conimpelled forward by the face 11 and intov 'the explosionchamber 12, 'where a maxi rhum pressure is obtained by the raising of f6 is an inlet port to chamber 5, through with the explosion` 13, whichlatter is designed to prevent back hel at maximum pressure in thechamber 2 to abutment 7 but its function is that, rst, of ian actuatoror.:` iston by which the initial force of the exp oding ases iscommunicated to the rotor y1 8'ands "aft 2, and second, of an abutmentfor Lvclosing communication behind'the rotor andjbetween the explosionchamber.. and the 'exhaust port 2l.. Figs."1 and2l show the relativepositions ot the r9;4 i tors 4 and 18 at the moment' explesion'tilesplace; During the periodtliat ther gases areY being forced into thechamber-Eby rotor/1, the broad faceof the rotor 18 is pressing thevactuatorVV 16""9ut of "the path of the rotor to close the chamber v12.The exploding gas in chamber 12 v'exerts `its forcedownwardly upon thehinged actuator 16 and causes the latter to act 'approximately at rightangles .to .the rear face 20 of the rotor and directly on the'rotor'.YAt the moment of explosion 20 of the gas, the actuator is in.engagement With vthe extreme. outer end ofthe inclined surface 2O ofthe rotor 18, and exerts, in addition to the pressure generatedy by theexploding gases, the additional power due to 25. the Wedgmg leverageofthe actuator against the inclined surface 20 of the rotor 18; therebygreatly increasing the power derived Vfrom the Ipressure of the gas fora considerable part. of the rot-ation of the rotor 18. After the wall 20of the rotor has'advanced away from the act1iator'16,the actuator isthen'supported upon the hub of the rotor 18, and -the expandine gasesexert their venergy expansively against the face 35. 20 of the rotor,and also against the fa'ce'of the lactuator 1G, andcontinuato drive thevpiston around in the expansion chamber; Thus, the force of the gases iscompletely utilized, and -theexhaust' port :'21 is not 40 opened untilthe. rotor V18 has passed it, by which time the full effective expansionof ,the gases has been utilized. f y 1 In .order to prevent leakagevof-the' gases i from'the chamber 1 2 around the actuator '16 when thelatter isclosed, I prefer topack the actuator by means of the' lateralsprmgy flap members lyvhich are of suitable mai terial and 'madeintegral With or attached tofthf'act-uator, andadapted to be pressed bythe 'gases in the chamber into close contact with-the side Wallsthereof. f, It is-essenti'al in-.gorder to produce a motor of thischaracter, that eflicient and prac-v tical packings be used Ythroughoutthe-mechy anism in order to prevent the leakage, iirst,

Lof the gas when it is being compressed, and {aisol to 'prevent leakaget` `the gas after hasbeen exploded, and during' its expan= sioni and forthis purposel have provided| the extended perip ery of therotor 4cv Witha transverse packinl 22 which is pressed outwardly against t e innerperiphery of the casing of the chamber 5, by a suitable spring 23, andit is prevented from jumping out of the piston tas it crosses the portof the abutment-'7, by suitably headedpins 24, but which pins permitsutiioie-nt play .of the packing 22, so that it is maintained .againstthe wall of the chamber fby `the spring 23. v'lhere vare also' providedpackings 25 upon each of the vertical surfaces of the ret/0I v Vlli'll.are...adapted-to bear .againsthefide Walls of the chamber 5,

'and are alsospring-actuated, and a packv ing-ring 26 is secured uponeach side of the piston 4 approximate the hub, and if "desirable thispacking-ring may be eccen- `tric, slightly, inforder to prevent itsWear- .ing a groove injthewalls of the chamber, Pac-kings 27 are mountedin eac-li side of the 80 abutment 7, and`may be spiig-actuated." 'Illehub portion of the-part 7 ,is also pr'ovvided with a packing 2'8,thereby preventing loss of pressure around thisportionl Thesides of fthechambers 5-19-12 are preferably'water-jacketed, as at 35.. Thel piston1K8 is hollow, havingupon its periphery suitable transverse packings29,' and alsohavi'ng a small air port 3() which communicatesiwith theinterior of the pis- 90- ton 18 andwith the! exhaust port V21, and whichport '30 is adapted te permit air .to circulate freely by meansl ofports 31 l.through the hollow shaft .2, the air being driven through thepiston by. internal blades B1B.- lhis serves the importantfunction 'ofreducing the; temperaturepf the 'pistom 1 It hasl beeni found .inel'igines of this class that they areoften renderediimpractical; byfrcason of the ndue heating and consequent expansion of, 'he-several.lmovable members; or if these members are made so, as to allow for theexpansion ofthe several parts, there is usually a large loss ofpressuredue to the inetliciency of the packmg Therefore, it will be noticed thatby providing for a constant circulation of cool Lair through th'einterior of the piston, the temperature of theparts is maintained 'atthe minimum.

"The blades 31L are insideY the piston 18 and operate fan-fashion'tofin'duce a strong 'current inwa'idly through the hollovv shaft. 2 and.thepistorn The air escapingl from the interior of the piston lSt-hroughthe port 30, as the latter traverses the exhaust 21, acts not only tocool the parts, but to force out the .gasesrernaining in the 4exhaust'passageflhe portion of the interior of the casing-.between the trentedge of the piston 18 and' the' actuator 16 is grooved, as shownat 35.,se' as te allow the air which would otherwise be confined, to escapethrough the. exhaust portas the piston api'iroaches the actuator.' -5The packing -32 are mounted in the-side. walls 'of the piston 18, andare pressed outwardlyl into contact with the Walls of the chamber 19, bysuitable springs 33. It is here'again tha t' the cooling 'of the 'piston130 18 is advantageous `for the reason that the temper 1s not drawn fromthesprings by their becomlng heated.-

' TheA actuator 1G is 'positively operated by rcasonf of its-engagementwith the irregular peripher of the piston 18 which travels as indicateby the arrow in Fig. 3. so that its advance face will engage. the lowerend ol .the actuator' 16, and lift it gradually until the. actuatorforms a lower movable wall -for the chamber 12.

The'compressor piston 4 and the actuator 16 are so timed relatively,that as the wall 11 of the piston 4 is advancing to com- 1 press thefuelcharge-in chamber 12, the

actuator 16 is also advanced so as to close the bottom portion of thechamber 12 .by the piston 18 and the concentric portion of thepiston-18..,is of such length asto maintain theactuatbr ith-in itsclosed position during the-compression of the gas inthe chamber 12; andas` soon as the'piston 4 and the abutment 7 have been brought into theposition shown in Fig. 2,`at which time the gas charge in the chamber'12is at its maximum compression, the actuator' '16 is lthen in the.position shown in Fig. 1 reiative"to the piston 18, and the chargeexploded. .The exhaust gas after each `e. plo sion is thoroughlyscavenged from the' eX- pansion chamber 1S) by. thefrot-aton of thebottom wall of the lpiston` A15S in its movement through the chamber.

I have herein described one mo or in its entirety, butseveral. of thesemotors may be united so as to `-form a set; and therighl'- handWaterljacketed wall, as` shown in Fig.

` of the drawings, is here designed so that.

the next unit could be ,readily joined in series upon the shaftl 2. Theseveral movable members are' adapt ed to be oiled through the o il ducts34,

which may be drilled through the casing at `any desirable point so as toconduct oil in ing an actuator engaging the pistpn and separating theexplosion chmnlcrfrbm the expansion chamber and communicating theinitial force of the exptoded gases to said piston. I

2. An mtcrnal combustion engine, comprising a circular water-.jaclrctedcasing inclosing a compression chamber and lan expansion chamber. ashaft suitably journalcd in said casing and carrying pistons for saidchambers. an intermediate explosion chambe, an ignitcr located in saidexplosion chamber` and hinged abutments between the explosion chamberand the compression chamber and between said explosion chamber and theexpansion chamber. one of said abutlnents closing` communication betweenthe explosion chamber and the expansion'cham ber and operating' inwardlydirectly against the piston'of the expansion chamber to assist theaction. of the exploded gases in pro'- pelling said piston.

3. In a rotary engine, a circular casing', a shaft 'concentrictherewith. a cam-shaped piston mounted upon the' shaft within thecasing, a curved oscillating abutment having its axis exterior to theinner periphery of the casing, means by which the free end of said,abutment is held in engagement with the piston hub, an intake passage.in the casplosion chamber connected with the casing atthe other sideofthe abutment, a checkvalv'e in said connection through which a chargeis forced intdthe explosion chamber,

ing upon oneside of the abutment.` an exmeans within the?"iqilosionlchamber 'ny' i which the compressedeharge .is ignited. anexpansion*chamberg'into which the ignited charge isdeliveredianjactuator adapted to cut oiiI theexplosion chamber from theexpension chamber, said"V actuator being' operated inwardly'bydhepressure of the exploded gases',.f and a iston on said shaft within theexpansion `amber against which the pressure is exerted.

4. In arotary" engine, n casing. a shaft concentric therewith, a hub onthe shaft hav ing apiston projecting and rcvoluhle against the interiorperiphery of the casing. alhinged abutment having its axis exterior tothc inner periphery ofthe casing, means by which the free end of 1saidabutment is heldin ento allow the piston to pass, an intake passage wardby the passage of the piston, an explosion chamber into which a chargeis comlpressed by the action of said piston, a. checkvtlve to preventthe return of' the charge, .means within the explosion chamber for ig-'niting the charge, an expansion chamber within which the explodedcharge is allowed to act, and a hinged abutment between the'- explosionchamber andthe expansion chamber and adapted to cut oil the former fromthe latter,`said abutment adapted to be` 1 10 gagement with the hub,said piston having a. 'cam-shape by whichthe-abutment' is raised and toassi/st the gases of the exploded charge to rotate sai piston.y y

5. In a rotary engine, a casing having a circular com ression'chamber,with rotary piston anda utnent, intake and discharge ports, an exp1o sionA chamber, a check-valve between' the twocharnbers adapted yto pre;v'vent the return of thecharge to-'they comy* opening inwardlyunderthepressure of the r exploded charge to open communication Ybetweenk theexplosion clriainberV and the ex lansion chamber, and te assist thegaseso the exploded .charge infpropclling said piston-- 6. internalcombustiony engine, consisting/'of a pair .ofcircular casin s inciosingcompression rand expansion clamb'ers,A a shaft extending through saidchambers and .,casings, a piston with a cam-shaped outline mountedupontneshaft :in-each of .the chainbers, and` tting the interioric therespective chamber, abntnients having their axes en terior tothe innerperiphery of 'the -casings, and their movable edges in contact with thepiston hubs, an intakefpassage,connecting with .sind compressionchamberyan explorstnamed chambers, a discharge passage between theexplosion chamber and the com pression chamber said 'passage being'closed lby one of the abutments when the vlatter is forced 'mit by thepassage of a respective piston, acheck-valve to prevent the return ofthe chae to the compression chamber, said explosi chamber bein directlyconnected with the, expansion c amber, an lgniter within thel explosionchamber, one of said 'abutments separating the 4explosion chamber fromthe expansion chamber and having its/free end irl-contact with and'adapted to press upon the piston in the expansion chamber to assistthecharge in propelling said piston, and 'an exhaust passagel located. behind the abutment through which the Waste gases are discharged. f l

7. In a rotary engine, a circular expansion chamber, a vcentrallyjournaled revoluble piston fitting saidrchamber, compression andexplosion chambers, an -igniter in said explosion chamber, and avswinging abutment between the explosion and expansion chambers adaptedtocilt o communication between the-explosion chamber and the expansionchamber, said abutment having its free end .adapted to contact with thepiston and trans ysion vchamber located intermediate of the mit the'initiai pressure of the exploded' gases to said piston.

In testimony whereof I -have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses. l

. y ROLLA A. MORTON. f' Wtnessesg 'Y r 'Cinemas EDELMAN,

C. C.' COOK.

